Crown youth group (CYG), a community-based Organization operating in Bungoma County has launched distribution of sanitary towels exercise in Bungoma schools to improve menstrual hygiene.

Speaking to the to the press in Webuye West Constituency during the distribution of sanitary towels at Milani Secondary school, Samuel Nakitare, Chairman Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child health (RMNCH) said that the move came as a result of high number of teenage pregnancies in schools in Bungoma.

This increased school drop- outs especially during Covid-19 lockdowns.

Crown youth group is a CBO that works under Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child health to ensure that there is increased Antenatal care visits, reduce teenage pregnancy and strengthen weak referral systems in health facilities.

“Bungoma is among the counties that have recorded a high number of teenage pregnancy and our move aims at distributing sanitary towels and educating young girls the importance of menstrual hygiene,” Nakitare said.

The health advocate revealed that the organization held talks with health providers in Bungoma County before taking the initiative of distributing sanitary towels in schools.

“I held discussions with health providers in almost all health facilities to check how pregnant women are attending Antenatal care visits (ANC) that helped me organize this for sanitary towels distribution,” he said.

He urged expectant mothers to visit health facilities for Antennal Care (ANC).

Nakitare assured that the organization will move around the entire county to distribute sanitary towels in Bungoma schools, adding that the organization disbursed 14 boxes of sanitary towels at Milani secondary school.

He also said that Milani Secondary school has so far recorded 10 teenage pregnancies.

Nakitare lauded the government through the ministry of education for distributing sanitary towels in schools.

Kennedy Wanyela, the school principal noted that girls who got pregnant while in school are getting guidance from health providers and will be supported to access education.